I have a lot of guitars. This one intrigued me because of the surf green color and the Duncan-designed tube style pickups. I knew it was a Squier and it didn't cost a...Read complete review

I have a lot of guitars. This one intrigued me because of the surf green color and the Duncan-designed tube style pickups. I knew it was a Squier and it didn't cost a ton, so I took a chance at purchasing it. I was hopeful, but not expecting the moon with this guitar. I thought the aesthetic was cool. The first guitar arrived with the neck pick-up disengaged. I couldn't fix it so I sent it back. MF handled the return and reshipment flawlessly. Thanks MF. I have to say I was pretty bummed that the first guitar wasn't playable, because it looked gorgeous. So, did the second one! The surf green color is great. Even my wife commented on the color. I like the white sparkle pick-guard and the rosewood fretboard with the maple head stock. It's just a pretty little guitar. The action was nicely set and it plays great, too. Another nice surprise. The pick-ups are plenty hot for me. They've got a very good sound - nice and punchy. The trem was set all the way back so it took a lot to get it to move at all. I took another chance and set up the tremolo a la Carl Verheyen's method - and it worked this time! I was able to get this tremolo to float beautifully so I can pull up and dive bomb with the guitar staying in tune. On a Squier! I've got some very expensive guitars that don't do that. I already liked this guitar, now I love it. I have to give it 5 stars even with the one return. I have a blast with it every time I play. It has totally exceeded my expectations. This would be the perfect guitar for someone just starting out. It's even a joy for an old hack like me. Go get one!

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Great Guitar For the Price

I've played guitar for over 15 years. I've owned big jazz box type guitars such as the Epiphone Joe Pass model, Les Paul copys like the Ibannez PF300 and MIM Strats. If you're...Read complete review

I've played guitar for over 15 years. I've owned big jazz box type guitars such as the Epiphone Joe Pass model, Les Paul copys like the Ibannez PF300 and MIM Strats. If you're looking for that early 60's vibe without paying $1500 for the reissue, this is a great choice. Easily the best Squier I've ever owned.I was a little hesitant about the "Duncan Designed" lipstick pickups but they actually sound a lot better than your average Squier pickups (assuming you have a decent left-hand tone). The instrument I got happened to be very well set up, getting a proper set up and intonation is extremely important with these cheaper guitars. There was some minor protrusion of the frets off the fretboard, but that's to be expected with a brand-new guitar. I read a lot of reviews online where people complain about the frets but you can't really expect a new instrument to be broken in already. The fret protrusion will be worn down with playing time. The neck and fretboard are decent enough, no dead spots or fret buzz on mine. I haven't opened it up and checked on the electronic yet but I haven't had an issue with shorts or the pots in the tone/vloume knobs "humming".Obviously it's a less expensive Strat, don't expect Gilmour or Clapton tone out of it (unless you're Clapton or Gilmour). But it's a very serviceable instrument for the price. Plays fantastic and has great tone compared to other instruments in this price range.I had always wanted a surf green strat so I might be a little biased, but show me another inexpensive guitar that sounds this good.

The Allen screws in the saddles were tapped incorrectly and the screws were 'crooked''. Only two of the six screws that secure the bridge plate were fully inserted and actually holding the bridge plate down. Didn't need to go any further; not nearly as well made as my Chinese made Classic Vibe Squire strat that have played for several years.

Bought it from MF used level 2. arrived fast and I think they made a mistake. Looks brand new, not a scratch, plastic still on everything. Out of the box great action, great tone, beautiful finish. This guitar is well worth the money.Buy it, you'll love it.

Terrific looking guitar. I have several instruments from Indonesia (guitars and keyboard)all well built including this one. Electronics good, no humming,lipstick pickups are bright but can be dialed back. Fret ends okay. I cannot find any flaws except a stiff vibrato( I am nitpicking here) which can be adjusted. Looks and plays like a much more expensive guitar Turn up the reverb and play those old Ventures/Dick Dale tunes. A time machine back to the 60's.

Like most, I was drawn to the surf green color and the unusual pickups. Why Fender does not offer this very popular color in their American models is beyond me. It is only available in the Jeff Beck signature models or the 50's Strat model. First, let me get the minor gripes out of the way. The guitar arrived dirty as if it had been in an Indonesian dust storm. I basically had to dismantle it and vacuum the dust out of the pickup cavities as well as give it a complete wipe down. Also, there were a few paint chips around the neck place but no big deal. There was also a slight bulge on the finish of the back of the neck but I've grown to appreciate it since it's exactly at the 7th fret and helps me find my way around the neck without looking at the fretboard. The good stuff… Aesthetically, the guitar is overall beautiful. Both the pickguard and the backplate are pearloid. The rosewood fretboard has a smooth grain with decent fretwork. The "Duncan Designed" lipstick pickups are a bit weak but manageable and sound great through a tube amp. If you want to replace them with the real Seymour Duncan lipsticks, look for the Duncan SLS-1 pickups. I have already worn the logo off the neck and middle pickups from how much I've played this guitar.

Well packaged for shipping. Ready to play but change the strings but not until you check it out with the factory settings.I had no problems with buzzing frets or any other issues other then I oiled the rosewood to dry for me. frets are narrow but a hair taller, guitar seems to let me play slightly faster with lighter finger presure. fit and finish is excellent! I bought it because of the different pickups, other end of the spectrum of tones from my SRV. very happy with it! I'm 58 years old and seem to be stuck on fenders and this is my first time squire and I like it! not afraid to bring this out of the house. I'll be watching this company!

I have a lot of guitars. This one intrigued me because of the surf green color and the Duncan-designed tube style pickups. I knew it was a Squier and it didn't cost a ton, so I took a chance at purchasing it. I was hopeful, but not expecting the moon with this guitar. I thought the aesthetic was cool. The first guitar arrived with the neck pick-up disengaged. I couldn't fix it so I sent it back. MF handled the return and reshipment flawlessly. Thanks MF. I have to say I was pretty bummed that the first guitar wasn't playable, because it looked gorgeous. So, did the second one! The surf green color is great. Even my wife commented on the color. I like the white sparkle pick-guard and the rosewood fretboard with the maple head stock. It's just a pretty little guitar. The action was nicely set and it plays great, too. Another nice surprise. The pick-ups are plenty hot for me. They've got a very good sound - nice and punchy. The trem was set all the way back so it took a lot to get it to move at all. I took another chance and set up the tremolo a la Carl Verheyen's method - and it worked this time! I was able to get this tremolo to float beautifully so I can pull up and dive bomb with the guitar staying in tune. On a Squier! I've got some very expensive guitars that don't do that. I already liked this guitar, now I love it. I have to give it 5 stars even with the one return. I have a blast with it every time I play. It has totally exceeded my expectations. This would be the perfect guitar for someone just starting out. It's even a joy for an old hack like me. Go get one!

Not happy with the insturment. I have tried 2 of the guitars and have returned both. The first one had intermitant pickup switch which caused it to loose all sound from the guitar. The second one had the claw screws that set the spring tension on the tremolo were screwed into the body at an angle and couldn't adjust the tension right. I have been playing Fender guitars for 55 years and I guess I was expecting more quality from the Squier brand. I really appreciate the way musician's freind handled my returns. They do a great job...

Been looking at the Surf Mod Strat since it came out, finally decided to give it a try. Extremely glad I did. Out of the box very playable. Fret finish was quite good, basic setup was better than I'd expected in this price range. The only negative I have has to do with the strings. I found a fret buzz on ONE string (G)at the 7th fret, not above or below. After checking frets, intonation, and string height, I found there was a physical bend in the G string at the 7th fret. I'm guessing that whoever was stringing it pulled the string through too hard and bent it. String tension did not straighten it. Put a new string on it, and fret buzz went away with no other adjustments.

Pickups are also quite good, nice tone and clarity. Played a little bit with the height, picked up a lot of volume by bringing them up a little.

Love the surf green, finish was great with no mars or scratches I've been able to find.

All in all, well worth what they charge for it. I'd consider it worth it at the list price.

I've always liked Squiers, lipstick pickups and Surf Green, so couldn't resist. Recording shows a dramatic drop in noise when selecting 2 or 4 on the 5-way switch. I noticed "motorboat" noise when turning up output on PC interface, but am not 100% sure it's the guitar or if it's present on recorded track: more research needed. Excellent workmanship from Indonesia, but would have preferred maple neck.

I am one of those guys who needs a new axe every year or so to keep me picing up the gutar. Something new and different. This one was a good buy. The playability out of the box was spot on. Tuned it up and ready to play. Action decent, frets are great for a guitar in this price range, sounds great clean with reverb in all pickup switch positions, sounds good/great in high gain settings, plays and feels great, good color, good construction, no noticible cosmetic flaws yet. The lipstic pups surprised me, sound good. The dynamic range (clean low volume to hot max volume) is great. All and all a good guitar for the price.

My picky comments have to do with because its a strat with single coil pickups more than a quality/sound thing. The strat design are my main issues, but I can live with them. I dont like the volume knob so close to the bridge, a strat thing, its in my way when palm muting. Strat bridges always bother me with those protruding height screws scraping my palm. I suppose I could have the screw bottoms filed. The lipstick pickups are a little muddy in the low freq area in high gain situations.

Some may not like this but the bridge is screwed tight & close to the body. Havent tried the vabrato bar, dont reall want to either. I like fixed bridge guitars, and this is good for that.

Dont get me wrong, for the price, this guitar is good! Sounds and plays great. Only time will tell if my comments hold up over time. Last inexpensive Mex 1992 strat the frets wore flat in a couple of years. Dont know if that will happen with this one, a Indo strat. Doesnt matter though, its a fun guitar for the price. Thinking about buying another one. Maybe, maybe not.

One more thing, I can get a good high gain sound out of this guitar with my Carvin V3M. I can get good blues and rock tones out of this one. I can even get good heavy pop rock tones out of it. Metal, maybe not so convincing, although my hands do okay compensating for some of those Metal sounds. Tapping the high strings on high gain sound great. Not so good on the lower strings though, muddy. Could be an amp setting thing though.